Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle has announced a significant change in its coaching staff, with Tuomas Sammelvuo stepping down from his role as the team’s head coach, marking the end of their partnership. The decision, as stated by the ZAKSA S.A. Board, is a direct response to the team’s unsatisfactory performance, notably their standing outside the playoff zone in the league (8 wins, 9 losses) and mixed results in the volleyball Champions League group stage (3 wins, 3 losses).
Sammelvuo assumed the role of head coach for ZAKSA in 2022, marking his return to the Kędzierzyn-Koźle club after over ten years, albeit in a different capacity. Previously, he had played for ZAKSA during the 2009-10 season. In his coaching tenure in 2022/2023, he successfully led the team to victory in both the CEV Champions League and the Polish Cup.
Sammelvuo’s coaching career includes significant experience in Russia from 2016, overseeing both club and national teams. He achieved notable success, securing a gold medal at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League and a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He also took on the role of head coach for the Canadian national team from 2023.
Taking over the helm as the interim head coach of Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle is Adam Swaczyna, supported by assistant coach Michał Chadała. Swaczyna, who hails from Kędzierzyn-Koźle and joined the ZAKSA coaching staff in 2019. His previous roles include stints at Effector Kielce and VfB Friedrichshafen, where he worked alongside Vital Heynen. He has also collaborated with coaches like Nikola Grbić and Gheorghe Cretu and has been an assistant to Nikola Grbić in the Polish national team since 2022. Michał Chadała continues his role as an assistant coach. Chadała has a rich history with the team, having worked with youth groups, led the ZAKSA team in the Young League, and been part of the championship staff since 2014.
The newly appointed coaching duo of Swaczyna and Chadała will make their debut in the upcoming PlusLiga match, where Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle will face off against Indykpol AZS Olsztyn on January 25th.
